PSL spot-fixing: Tribunal to hold hearing on Friday

Lahore, March 20 (IANS) The three-member Anti-Corruption Tribunal set up to probe the alleged spot-fixing in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), on Monday issued notices to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and cricketers Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif to hold the preliminary hearing at the National Cricket Academy here on Friday.

The tribunal, which also includes former PCB chairman Lieutenant General (Retd) Tauqir Zia and former Test cricketer Wasim Bari, will have the preliminary hearing of the case.

The tribunal was constituted after both Khalid and Sharjeel formally informed PCB that they seek to contest the charges levelled against them.

"The three members of the Anti-Corruption Tribunal tasked with adjudicating the spot-fixing matter have today issued notices to PCB, Sharjeel Khan and Khalid Latif to hold a preliminary hearing on Friday from 11:30 a.m. at the National Cricket Academy, Lahore," the PCB said in a statement.

"The Tribunal was constituted after the two delinquent players, Khalid Latif and Sharjeel Khan, formally informed PCB that they seek to contest charges levelled against them."

"As per the prescribed procedure the Tribunal will hold the preliminary hearing where as mandated by the Code timeline of future dates of hearing will be decided."

The statement further read that the Tribunal will decide the timeline of future dates of hearing at the preliminary hearing.

"Moreover, at the preliminary hearing the Tribunal in consultation with legal representatives of PCB and players will decide when the PCB is to submit an opening brief detailing the claims against the two players along with the evidence to be relied on; the date by which the players must respond/reply to the PCB's opening brief; and the date of the final full hearing."

"It is important to reiterate that the PCB Anti-Corruption Unit or legal department cannot make public any evidence or material as under the Code the proceedings are confidential," it added.

Besides, Sharjeel and Khalid, the PCB's ACU ended up suspending and issuing notices to a total of five cricketers -- batsmen Nasir Jamshed and Shahzaib Hasan and pacer Mohammed Irfan -- in the PSL spot-fixing inquiry.